It has been published in the Official Gazette! Shelter requirement for shopping malls.

07.11.2025 12:28

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change has made changes to the Shelter Regulation. Now, shopping malls, parking lots, and sports facilities with a capacity of 5,000 people or more will be required to have shelters in national gardens.

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The regulation regarding the amendment of the shelter regulation jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Interior has been published in today's issue of the Official Gazette, establishing regulations for the construction of shelters that will protect citizens in case of disasters and wars.

SHELTERS ARE MANDATORY FOR SPORTS FACILITIES, SHOPPING MALLS, AND NATIONAL GARDENS

Accordingly, suitable types of shelters will be created in buildings to be constructed by public institutions, municipalities, the private sector, and individuals, depending on population density and usage purpose. In particular, the construction of shelters will be mandatory in facilities such as sports facilities with a capacity of 5,000 people or more, shopping malls, parking lots, and national gardens.

With the regulation, infrastructure conditions have been arranged so that areas such as subways, underground passages, parking lots, and bazaars can be used as general shelters during the project design phase.

In this regard, technical specifications have made it mandatory to have at least 1 m² of shelter space per person, a ceiling height of 2.40 meters, ventilation systems, emergency lighting, and communication equipment, as well as nuclear filtration systems. Shelters will not be included in the floor area ratio calculations.

In this context, the shelter areas in every building granted a usage permit will be recorded in the AFAD registration system. Deficiencies in existing buildings will also be completed by December 31, 2028.

EXEMPTIONS FROM MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED

With the regulation, the obligations regarding the construction of splash shelters, which are divided into pressure and splash types, have also been reorganized. The general shelter needs and site selection criteria will be determined by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

Accordingly, in the approved architectural project attached to the building permit; in residential buildings with less than 10 independent units, in non-residential buildings with a floor area subject to the floor area ratio of less than 1500 m², in official buildings with less than 1000 m², in dormitories, barracks, hotels, and other accommodation facilities with a total bed capacity of 50 or less, and in facilities for the disabled, elderly, and children with a total bed capacity of 25 or less, as well as in agricultural and livestock structures and all kinds of manufacturing and industrial facilities with a floor area subject to the floor area ratio of less than 2000 m², in penal institutions and detention centers, the obligation to construct shelters will not be required.

Municipalities are required to provide all kinds of facilities to encourage the underground construction of buildings and facilities such as cinemas, theaters, entertainment venues, parking lots, garages, closed bazaars, and passages, and to take necessary measures to use these places as general shelters when needed.

SHELTER AREAS WILL BE REGISTERED

The shelter areas established in buildings for which a usage permit has been obtained will be registered by the local administrative authority within 5 business days from the submission of the relevant documents. It will be mandatory for these records to be kept by the relevant authorities and reported to the Governorship (Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate).